How YOU can be an agent of Summer and serve its generativity –
To be in harmony with the energy of Summer, connect with your heart. Awaken early in the morning, be joyful, more playful, wildly productive, and creative. Shine!
The heart is the emperor of all the organs in our body, taking charge of fundamental tasks to maintain health and vibrancy. Nurturing your heart daily allows you to radiate like the sun.
FOODS AND GENERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO PROMOTE A GOOD HEART QI.
We are what we eat and much more! The spirit of the heart known as Shen is one of the three treasures in Chinese medicine. Shen lives in the heart’s blood. It is nurtured by the nutrients of food we eat.
Below you will find a list of food and recommendations on how to nourish yourself in the most Yang season of the year.
Cook plenty of brightly fresh seasonal vegetables and fruits. Especially the colors red, green, and yellow.
The cooking methods recommended for this time of the year are raw, steam, pickled and quick sauteed.
FOODS TO PROMOTE HEART QI
Fruits: Look for red fruits such as; Raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, watermelon, and red plums. Also lemon, melon, avocados, and pears.
Dairy and eggs: Greek yogurt or kefir milk.
FOOD TO AVOID TO PROMOTE THE HEART QI
Avoid very hot energy or temperature foods, such as alcohol (especially whiskey and red wine; on the other hand, though beer is refreshing), very hot spicy spices, fatty cheeses, fried foods (made with a lot of heat and oil), saturated fats, butter, and fatty meats.
These foods favor the deposit of fats and toxins in our blood vessels, as well as circulatory and coronary diseases, so they are not convenient, especially at this time of year.
It is also necessary to avoid very sweet foods, producers of mucus and phlegm: sugars and derivatives, ice cream (mixture of sugar and cold), and industrial pastry (wheat flour + sugar). These foods, added to the summer heat, cause internal heat and humidity, which translate into inflammation and swelling. If you want to eat ice cream or very cold food in summer, try not to overeat.
